Okeanos Explorer (EX1703): CAPSTONE Howland/Baker PRIMNM and PIPA (ROV/Mapping)

Vessel: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer; Expedition Dates: March 7 - 29, 2017

Project Principals: Brian Kennedy, NOAA/OAR/OER (Expedition Coordinator); Derek Sowers, NOAA/OAR/OER (Mapping Lead)

Operations for this cruise will be conducted 24 hours/day and consist of daily remotely operated vehicle (ROV), overnight mapping, CTD casts and full shore-based participation via telepresence. Operations will be conducted within several marine protected areas.

Swains Atoll

Area

Swains Atoll; National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa Swains Atoll unit

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities at the Swains Island region of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Geological interests include sampling basalt rocks for dating the age of this feature.

Pao Pao

Area

Pao Pao; Tokelau Seamount Chain inside the Tokelau EEZ

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities at Pao Pao Seamount in the Tokelau Seamount Chain. This feature has a summit depth of 300m, with the base at almost 6000 m. The seamount has had some rock dredging, but as far as is known, there has been no dedicated biological survey or sampling.

Carondelet Reef

Area

Carondelet Reef; Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities in the Carondelet Reef area in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). This will be the first feature in the EX1703 expedition that will lie within the boundaries of PIPA. Deep-sea environments in PIPA are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by the MPA. This feature has a summit depth of <5m, capped by a submerged reef complex. The base lies at a depth of 5300m.

Unnamed seamount 1 PIPA (Athena)

Area

Unnamed seamount 1 PIPA (Athena); Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on seamounts in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). This will be the second feature in the EX1703 expedition that will lie within the boundaries of PIPA. Deep-sea environments in PIPA are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by the MPA. This feature has a summit depth of ~1050m with three prominent ridges to the east, west, and south. The summit cap is approx. 250m in diameter.

Polo Seamount

Area

Polo Seamount; Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Polo Seamount in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Deep-sea environments in PIPA are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by the MPA.

Unnamed Seamount West of Winslow Reef

Area

Unnamed Seamount West of Winslow Reef; US EEZ around Howland and Baker Islands

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on an unnamed seamount in the Winslow Reef complex. Winslow Reef proper lies within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). This feature appears to be part of the complex but lies across the US-Kiribati EEZ boundaries. Deep-sea environments inthe US EEZ around Howland & Baker Unit of the PRIMNM are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves.

Titov Seamount 1

Area

Titov Seamount 1; Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Titov Seamount in the Howland & Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Titov Seamount will be the first feature surveyed in the Howland & Baker Unit of PRIMNM. Titov is a crescent-shaped flat-topped guyot with a prominent ridge protruding from the western flank. Deep-sea environments around Howland & Baker islands are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves. In addition, this feature does not have a geologic age yet assigned to it.

Baker Island Shallow

Area

Baker Island Shallow; Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Baker Island in the Howland & Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Deep-sea environments around Howland & Baker Islands are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves.

Howland Island Deep 1

Area

Howland Island Deep 1; Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Howland Island in the Howland & Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Deep-sea environments around Howland & Baker Islands are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves. Two dives will be conducted at Howland Island, one deep (this dive) and one shallow (following day). Understanding deep-sea coral biological resources as well as bathyal fish communities is of great importance to inform management in the area. This feature has been dated to 70-74MY old (*see Koppers et al 2007 Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.)

Howland Island Shallow

Area

Howland Island Shallow; Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Howland Island in the Howland & Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Deep-sea environments around Howland & Baker Islands are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves. This dive will target shallower depths (<600m) of Howland Island to examine deep-sea coral, sponge, and fish communities and contrast those observations to a similar dive profile at Baker Is. Understanding deep-sea coral habitat distribution as well as fish communities is of great importance to inform management in the area. This feature has been dated to 70-74MY old (*see Koppers et al 2007 Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.)

Howland Deep 2

Area

Howland Deep 2; Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Overview

Purpose

The goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Howland Island in the Howland & Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Deep-sea environments around Howland & Baker Islands are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves. Previous Dive09 (this cruise) explored a steep slope downslope from this large ridge. This dive will carry on where the previous dive left off to survey the remainder of the ridge crest, including taking a closer look at a diversity of octocorals at the dive start location. Understanding deep-sea coral biological resources as well as bathyal fish communities is of great importance to inform management in the area.

Baker Islands Deep

Area

Baker Islands Deep; Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM)

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Baker Island in the Howland & Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Deep-sea environments around Howland & Baker Islands are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves. The previous Dive08 (this cruise) explored shallow and carbonate karstic terrain as well as upper bathyal fish communities <600m depth. This dive will provide some perspective on biological resources as well as geological foundations of the island. Understanding deep-sea coral distribution as well as bathyal fish communities is of great importance to inform management in the area. Additionally, the age of Baker Island is not known, nor has any record of rock dredging in the area been reported.

Titov 2

Area

Titov 2; Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Titov Seamount in the Howland & Baker Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Deep-sea environments around the Howland & Baker Islands are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by these reserves. This expedition has already explored the western ridge of Titov Seamount (Dive07) at a depth of 1890-1740m. This dive will provide some perspective on biological resources (fishes, biogenic habitat) as well as geological resources (crust precipitates) of the seamount. Understanding deep-sea coral distribution as well as bathyal fish communities is of great importance to inform management in the area. The age of Titov Seamount is not known.

Unnamed Seamount West of Winslow Reef PIPA

Area

Unnamed Seamount West of Winslow Reef PIPA; Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on features around Winslow Reef in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Deep-sea environments around Winslow Reef are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by the reserves. This dive will provide some perspective on biological resources (e.g. fishes, biogenic habitat) as well as geological resources (crust precipitates) of the seamount. Understanding deep-sea coral distribution as well as bathyal fish communities is of great importance to inform management in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area and a nearby seamount in the US EEZ. The age of this seamount is not known.

Unnamed Seamount "Teutana Seamount"

Area

Unnamed Seamount "Teutana Seamount"; Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on features around the tentatively-named "Teutana Seamount" ("a little" in Kiribati), in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Deep-sea environments on seamounts in PIPA are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of any biological resources protected by the reserve. This dive will provide some perspective on biological resources (e.g. fishes, biogenic habitat) as well as geological resources (crust precipitates) of the seamount. Understanding deep-sea coral and sponge distribution as well as bathyal fish communities is important to inform management in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. The age of this seamount has not been determined from rock dating.

Hadal Trough "Kinono"

Area

Hadal Trough "Kinono"; Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities at hadal depths in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). We will be diving in one of the few non-trench associated hadal zones in the Pacific Ocean. Most hadal environments are virtually unexplored and there is little understanding of what resources might be protected at such depths. This dive will provide some perspective on biological resources (e.g. fishes, biogenic structures) as well as seafloor geology at these depths. The geological processes for formation of the Nova-Canton Trough could also be associated with the formation of this this hadal trough in the Phoenix Islands.

Unnamed Seamount (Maibua in Kiribati meaning "broken in two")

Area

Unnamed Seamount (Maibua in Kiribati meaning "broken in two"); Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on features around an unnamed seamount (Maibua in Kiribati meaning "broken in two") in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Assessment of early multibeam bathymetry for this feature indicates a potential mass wasting of one side of the seamount. Our dive will track along a moderate to steep ridge from ~700m to ~400m and will be our shallowest dive to date at a PIPA feature. Deep-sea environments in this area are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected by the reserve. This dive will provide some perspective on biological resources (e.g. fishes, biogenic habitat) as well as geological substrate (crust precipitates) of the seamount. Understanding deep-sea coral and sponge distribution as well as bathyal fish assemblages are of great importance to inform management in the PIPA. The age of seamount is not known.

Unnamed Seamount "Te Kaitira"

Area

Unnamed Seamount "Te Kaitira"; Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on features around an unnamed seamount ("Te Kaitira" in Gilbertese meaning "the last") in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Our dive will survey a feature south of the seamount proper on a small, deep knoll with a summit depth of 1800m. Deep-sea environments in this area are virtually unexplored leading to poor knowledge of biological resources protected within the boundaries of the protected area. This dive will provide some perspective on biological resources (e.g. fishes, biogenic habitat) as well as geological substrate (crust precipitates) of the seamount. Understanding deep-sea coral and sponge distribution, as well as bathyal fish assemblages, are of great importance to inform management in the PIPA. The age of this seamount is not known but nearby Matai Seamount to the south is aged around 61Ma.

Unnamed seamount "Te Kaitira"

Area

Unnamed seamount "Te Kaitira"; Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Overview

Purpose

The general goal of this dive is to acquire baseline information on deep sea habitats, seafloor geology, and biological communities on Ufiata Seamount in the Tokelau region. The geologic age of this feature is around 57-58Ma. The structure of this seamount might make it suitable for the deposition of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust. It falls within an area identified by SPC as a zone of crust potential, based on sampling by a joint Japan-SOPAC deep-sea minerals program in the 1990s.